Reusable pesticide bait station

ABSTRACT

A compact reusable bait station that can be used for either solid or liquid bait. The bait station has an outer wall that defines an inner bait chamber. The chamber, when sealed, prevents liquid bait inside the chamber from flowing out. The chamber has limited access from the outside to reduce evaporation, drying, and contamination of the liquid bait by preventing unnecessary exposure to the environment. Access to the outside is limited to access ports that are sized to allow access by an insect, but nothing larger. The access port is positioned above the level of the liquid bait to prevent leakage. The bait station is fabricated from reusable material, such as plastic, PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. and may be opened for cleaning and storage. Different configurations, such as triangular, rectangular, or tubular chambers may be used. Alternative embodiments provide ground attachment spikes which may be an integral part of the bait station or a removable attachment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pest control devices. In particular, itrelates to reusable pesticide dispensers for indoor or outdoor use andwhich are suitable for solid or liquid pesticides.

The treatment of pest problems has produced a number of devices that aredesigned to control insect pests. Several approaches have been taken inthe design of these devices. These approaches include traps to catch thepest and retain the pest within the trap, and bait stations which aredesigned to provide a feeding station that contains pesticides which thepest consumes and/or carries back to the colony. With the bait station,the pest exits the feeding station and dies elsewhere.

Trap devices can be based on adhesive traps which contain a scent lure.An insect is attracted by the scent, enters the trap, and becomes stuckon the adhesive and dies. Another form of trap uses light to catchflying insects. With this type of trap, the insect is attracted to thelight and flies toward it. In order to reach the light, it must flythrough an electrified field which kills it. The common feature of trapsis that the insect is killed at the trap. A disadvantage associated withthis type of device is that numerous dead insects accumulate which mustbe disposed of by the user.

Bait stations differ from trap devices in that the insect is not killedat the bait station. Instead, bait which is poisoned with pesticide isprovided for consumption by the insect. The insect enters the baitstation, devours the bait, exits the bait station, and dies elsewhere.Bait stations of this type can have solid or liquid bait. Bait stationsdo not result in accumulation of dead insects at the bait station whichwas a problem created by the traps discussed above. An advantage of baitstation over a trap is that when the insect leaves the bait station, itreturns to its nest where it can transfer food to other members of thecolony who also die from the pesticide they ingest. Several insects mayeventually be killed due to the bait brought back to the colony by asingle insect. As a result, bait stations may be more effective thantrap devices due to their ability to kill insects which have neverentered the bait station.

A drawback associated with bait stations is that they are typicallyself-contained disposable devices. As a result, they tend to be moreexpensive since the entire device must be replaced whenever the bait isconsumed or no longer effective. Due to this, the use of bait is moreexpensive than it needs to be. It would be desirable to have aself-contained reusable bait station that could be easily refilled whennecessary and which reduces dessication of the bait.

Bait stations are typically designed for either indoor or outdoor use.The indoor bait stations are normally designed to be small so that theycan be placed in tight areas such as the space under counters,furniture, etc. outdoor bait stations, on the other hand, are as not asconstrained by space requirements and therefore have more flexibility interms of their size and shape. Due to the packaging requirements forindoor bait stations, they typically are not suitable for use outdoors.It would be desirable to have a liquid bait station which is suitablefor both indoor and outdoor use and which could be refilled whennecessary.

In addition, most bait stations are designed for either solid or liquidbait. While solid bait stations can be prepackaged, a prepackaged liquidbait station would be difficult to handle without spilling the bait. Asa result, the user that wants to use both liquid and solid bait would berequired to have two types of bait stations. It would be desirable tohave a bait station which was suitable for either solid or liquid bait.The bait could then be selected by the user to target a particularspecies of insect.

Another problem associated with a liquid bait station is that whenexposed to the environment, the liquid bait may dry out or evaporateprematurely. This creates unnecessary work and expense for the user, andmore importantly, it reduces the effectiveness of the bait station. Itwould be desirable to have a liquid bait station that protects theliquid bait from the environment such that evaporation or drying out ofthe liquid bait would be reduced or slowed. In addition, it would alsobe desirable to have a bait station that protects the bait fromcontamination or dilution by environmental factors.

While addressing the basic desirability of using bait stations, theprior art has failed to provide a reusable bait station which isinexpensive to manufacture, which has a minimum number of components,which allows easy refilling, which can be used with solid or liquidbait, which reduces or slows evaporation and drying out of the liquidbait, and which can be used indoors or outdoors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the foregoing problems by providing acompact reusable bait station that can be used for either solid orliquid bait. The bait station has an outer wall that defines a centralchamber that contains bait. The chamber, when closed, is sealed suchthat when liquid bait is inserted into the chamber, the liquid isprevented from flowing out. The chamber has limited access from theoutside to reduce evaporation, drying out, or contamination of theliquid bait by preventing unnecessary exposure to the environment. Theaccess to the outside is limited to access ports that are sized to allowaccess by an insect, but nothing larger. The access port is positionedabove the level of the liquid bait to prevent leakage. The bait stationis fabricated from reusable material and may be opened for cleaning.Different configurations, such as triangular, rectangular, or tubularchambers may be used. Alternative embodiments provide ground attachmentspikes which may be an integral part of the bait station or a removableattachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the baitstation which has a central chamber with removable end caps. Insectaccess ports are provided in each of the end caps. The central chamberand end caps have a pyramidal structure in this embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a side cut away view of the device of FIG. 1A. The end capsare shown installed on the central chamber. This figure also illustratesthe pesticide which is shown resting on the bottom of the chamber.

FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment in which the chamber is formed by anupper cap which is secured to a bottom plate.

FIG. 3 is another alternative embodiment in which the chamber is formedby two opposing end pieces which are mated together.

FIG. 4 is another alternative embodiment in which the chamber is formedby a floor plate that has the end caps attached via living hinges andthe upper walls of the central chamber formed by wall sections thatattach to the floor plate and the end caps.

FIG. 5 is yet another alternative embodiment in which the chamber isformed by a single piece. In this figure, the floor plate is attached tothe end caps via living hinges, and in addition, the upper walls areattached to the floor plate via living hinges and meet and seal at thetop.

FIGS. 6 is a further alternative embodiment in which the central chamberis substantially rectangular. Two end caps seal both ends of the centralchamber and contain access ports for the insects.

FIG. 7 is another alternative embodiment in which the central chamberhas a tubular structure. End caps are provided which are secured to thecentral chamber via threading.

FIG. 8A is an end view of an alternative embodiment in which adetachable ground spike is secured to the bait station via a strap.

FIG. 8B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 8A which illustratesthe attachment of the ground spike to the bait station.

FIG. 9A is an end view of an alternative embodiment in which the baitstation has an integral ground spike attached to it.

FIG. 9B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 8A which illustratesthe integral ground spike attached to the bait station.

FIG. 10A is an end view of an alternative embodiment in which adetachable ground spike is secured to the bait station via a clamp.

FIG. 10B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 10A which illustratesthe attachment of the ground spike to the bait station via a clamp.

FIG. 11A is an end view of an alternative embodiment in which adetachable strap is wrapped around the bait station and secured to theground via a nail.

FIG. 11B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 11A which illustratesthe attachment of the detachable strap and nail to the bait station.

FIG. 11C is a side view of an alternative embodiment of FIG. 11A inwhich nail is replaced with a screw to allow mounting the bait stationto a wall or other structure.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the baitstation which has a central chamber with removable end caps. Insectaccess ports are provided in each of the end caps. The central chamberand end caps have a right angled triangle structure in this embodimentto allow the bait station to be placed on a floor against a wall.

FIG. 12B is a side cut away view of the device of FIG. 12A. The end capsare shown installed on the central chamber. This figure also illustratesthe pesticide which is shown resting on the bottom of the chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Prior to a discussion of the figures, a general discussion of thefeatures and advantages of the invention will be presented. Principalobjectives of the invention are to provide a bait station capable of usewith either solid or liquid bait, a bait station which can be usedeither indoors or outdoors, which protects the bait from moisture and/orcontamination, a bait station which reduces air flow through the baitstation such that the effective useful life of liquid bait will beincreased by reducing the exposure of the liquid bait to theenvironment, a bait station that reduces evaporation and drying out ofthe bait, a bait station in which the inner chamber can be easilyaccessed for the purpose of cleaning or refilling, and a bait station inwhich the liquid bait is contained such that leakage is avoided andcontamination is prevented.

A problem associated with the outdoor use of bait stations is that theycan be moved relatively easily by wind, small animals, etc.. As aresult, a bait station that is suitable for indoor use may not besuitable for outdoor use because it is not stable enough. A removableground spike is provided that permits use of an indoor bait station inan outdoor environment. The ground spike is attached to the bait stationand inserted into the ground to secure it in place. An integral groundspike is used by an alternative embodiment. However, when the groundspike is an integral part of the device, it is not as suitable for useindoors.

The bait station has an outer wall that forms an inner chamber whichcontains the bait. The chamber is formed with a limited number of accessports for insects. Only a single access port is needed. However, morethan one access port may be used based on considerations such as thesize of the bait station, and manufacturing considerations. For example,if the access port is placed in the end cap, then having an access portin both end caps allows the manufacturing to be simplified by havingonly a single type of end cap, rather than one end cap with an accessport and a second end cap with no access port. The advantage of limitingaccess to the chamber is that the air flow is minimized and, as aresult, evaporation or drying out the liquid bait is reduced. This notonly saves money for the user by reducing the amount of liquid bait usedover a given period of time, but also saves the user's time and makesthe bait station more effective by reducing the amount of time that thebait station is inoperable because the bait has dried out.

A principal advantage of the invention over the prior art is that it isstructured to allow easy access to the interior chamber for cleaning andrefilling. As result, once a particular pest problem is resolved, thebait station can be cleaned and stored for future use. Therefore, theuser only needs to purchase the bait station once. In the prior artevery time the user needed to set out liquid bait, the bait stationwould be replaced or a tray within the bait station would be replaced.In addition, since the bait station can be reused, liquid bait can bepurchased in bulk quantities resulting in additional savings to theuser. Further, since the liquid bait would be stored in sealedcontainers, when the bait station was needed it can be immediatelyassembled and filled without requiring the user to waste time andexpense traveling to a store to obtain a new bait station. A reusablebait station also allows more than one type of bait to be used. Forexample, a liquid bait for sweet feeding ants, or a gel bait for antsthat prefer proteins or fats.

Further, by limiting access to the chamber, the possibility of leakageis reduced. This is important because bait leakage, which is typically apesticide, may come in contact with unwanted targets, such as children,pets, or food preparation areas. The access ports are designed such thatthey are above the level of the liquid bait when it is in the chamber.In addition, the access ports themselves may be used to fill the chamberwith liquid bait. The advantage of using the access ports to fill thechamber is that an additional access panel is not needed.

A variety of shapes and sizes of bait stations are illustrated in thefigures. There is no requirement for a particular shape of bait station.However, some shapes are more advantageous due to their ease ofmanufacture in relation to other shapes and configurations. In regard tothe access ports, the preferred embodiment uses a ⅛ inch aperture. The ⅛inch size used in the preferred embodiment is not critical, and in factmay vary based on the size of the particular pest which the user isattempting to eliminate. The placement of the access port in the endcaps is done for ease of manufacture since the central portion of thedevice may be manufactured by techniques such as extrusion, while capswould more likely be made via molding. In is important, however, thatthe access ports be located above the floor of the device to prevent anyof the liquid bait from leaking out of the access port.

One exception to the previous discussion about the shape of the baitstation relates to the positioning of the bait station in speciallocations. For example, if the bait station is to be placed against awall, then a right triangle shape is preferred.

The device presented herein, provides a reusable bait station that canbe easily opened for cleaning and storage, can be conveniently refilled,and can be used for either solid or liquid bait. While the foregoingdiscussion has focused on the use of liquid bait, those skilled in theart will recognize that the device can just as easily be used for solidbait or gel. The bait station structure taught herein provides similarbenefits for users of solid bait. For example, by sealing the solid baitinside the chamber, unwanted contacts with children or pets are lesslikely to happen. Further, by storing the solid bait inside the chamber,it can be left outside and be protected from environmental factors suchas rain. The savings advantages also apply to the use of the baitstation with solid bait. Of course, the bait station itself needs onlyto be purchased once. In addition, larger supplies of solid bait can bepurchased in bulk and stored in sealed packages for use when needed.Having discussed the features and advantages of the invention in generalterms, we turn now to a more detailed discussion of the figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, this figure shows a perspective view of a preferredembodiment of the invention in which the central chamber 1 is sealed atboth ends 5, 6 by end caps 2. In this embodiment, the central chamber 1has a pyramidal structure. As noted above, the shape of the chamber isnot important. For ease of manufacturing, non-varying shape such as thatused by the central chamber 1 allows a variety of manufacturingtechniques to be used. For example, the central chamber 1 can bemanufactured by an extrusion process, or via molds. The end caps 2 eachhave an extension 3 which is designed to slidably and snugly fit intothe inside channel of central chamber 1. In the preferred embodiment,the end caps 2 and their extensions 3 are made from flexible materialwhich will allow the extensions 3 to be pressed against the inside wallof central chamber 1. This allows the ends of central chamber 1 to besealed such that liquid bait will not leak out once the end caps 2 areinserted. The end caps 2 are inserted such that the surfaces 7 of endcaps 2 rest against the end surfaces 5, 6 of central chamber 1.Alteratively, the end caps 2 can also be structured such that theextensions 3 fit snugly over the outside of the central chamber 1 ratherthan inside. The placement of the extensions 3 on the inside or outsideof the central chamber 1 is not important so long as leakage isprevented.

Access ports 4 are provided in each of the end caps 2. Only one accessport 4 is required for each bait station. However, by placing an accessport 4 in each end cap 2, the manufacturing process is simplified sinceonly one type of end cap 2 is required. If only one access port 4 wasused on the bait station, then two types of end caps 2 would have to bemanufactured, one with and one without an access port 4.

The bait station can be fabricated by any suitable material. Forexample, central chamber 1 may be fabricated from metal, wood, plastic,polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. The only requirement is that thematerial selected will perform suitably and will not react chemicallywith the bait Likewise, the end caps 2 can be fabricated from anysuitable material. However, the end caps 2 should also be fabricatedfrom materials that are flexible to allow the extensions 3 to be pressfitted against the interior walls of central chamber 1 to ensure thatthe bait station does not leak. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat the bait station can alternatively be fabricated such that the endcaps 2 are rigid and the central chamber 1 is flexible for the purposeof providing a snug fit and preventing leakage.

As mentioned above, the size of the bait station may vary based on thetype of pest. Clearly, a smaller insect such as an ant would not requireas large an access port 4 as would a larger insect such as a roach or abeetle. In the preferred embodiment, a ⅛ inch access port 4 is used.Those skilled in the art will recognize that the smaller the access port4, the more effective the protection of the bait 8 is.

FIG. 1B is a side cut away view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A. In thisview, the end caps 2 are shown inserted into the central chamber 1. Theextensions 3 are snugly pressed against the interior wall of the centralchamber 1. Also illustrated in this figure is bait 8 which can be liquidor solid. If the bait is solid, it can be either a single solid piece,small pieces, moist pieces, or even dry flowable granular bait. Theaccess ports 4 are located such that they are above the fill level ofthe bait station. This prevents the bait 8 from leaking out of theaccess ports 4.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the central chamber 1 couldalso be shaped in cup-like fashion such that only a single end cap 2would be required.

In FIG. 2, an alternative preferred embodiment is shown. In thisembodiment, only two pieces are required: a floor panel 10 and an upperhousing 9. The upper housing 9 is attached to the floor panel 10 atattachment lip 11. Attachment lip 11 is a sealable edge connection thatsecures upper housing 9 to floor panel 10. Sealable edges are well-knownin the art for all manner of containers. This embodiment provides theadvantage of only having two parts: an upper housing 9 and a lower floorpanel 10. As shown in the figure, the end caps are integrated into theupper housing 9. As was the case with the previous embodiments, anysuitable material can be used to fabricate this embodiment. In addition,since the upper housing 9 and both end caps are fabricated as a singlepiece, there is no advantage to forming more than one access port.Therefore, protection from the environment can be increased and the rateof evaporation and drying of the bait 8 can be further slowed by usingonly a single access port 4.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another preferred embodiment in whichthe bait station is formed by two mated end sections. In thisembodiment, a male section 12 is inserted into a female section 13 toform the bait station. Since two separate molds would be required tofabricate this particular embodiment, there is no advantage to havingmultiple access ports 4.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another preferred embodiment. In thisembodiment, a floor panel 14 is fabricated with the end caps 2 attachedvia living hinges 16. This allows floor panel 14 and the attached endcaps 2 to be molded as a single piece. A separate upper wall segment 15is attached to the floor panel 14 at attachment lips 11. The end caps 2are then folded up and secured to upper wall segment 15. This figureillustrates access ports 4 in both end caps 2. However, since the floorpanel 14 and the end caps 2 are formed by a single mold, the user hasthe option of determining whether one or more access ports 4 are desiredwithout complicating the manufacturing process.

FIG. 5 shows yet another preferred embodiment. This figure is aperspective view of a single piece bait station. The advantage of thisembodiment is that the bait station can be fabricated in a single piecemold with results in reduced manufacturing costs for both the moldingand assembly processes. In this embodiment, three separate wall panels17 are attached to one another via living hinges 18. In addition, theend caps 2 are attached to the central wall panel 17 via living hinges16. When the device is assembled, the end caps 2 are folded upward bybending along living hinges 16. Then the exterior side walls 17 arefolded upward by bending along living hinges 18 until they rest againstextensions 3. At this point the edges of the exterior side walls 17 aresealed together by attachment lips 19. Attachment lips 19 may be formedby any number suitable methods including male/female engagement, clips,Velcro, etc. As noted above in regard to the previous embodiments, onlyone access port 4 is required, but others may be added.

FIGS. 6 shows a perspective view of another alternative preferredembodiment. In this embodiment, the pyramidal structure used in theforegoing embodiments is replaced with a rectangular structure. Thecentral chamber 1 in this structure can be manufactured in the samemanner as the foregoing structures. For example, it can be made by anextrusion process, via molding, etc.. The end caps 2 are also reshapedto fit the rectangular configuration of the central chamber 1. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that the same techniques used toproduce the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 can be used to produce the samevariety of embodiments of the structure shown in FIG. 6. For example,living hinges can be used to produce and single piece rectangularstructure in the same manner as a single piece with living hinges wasused to produce the pyramidal structure of FIG. 5.

Also illustrated in FIG. 6 is an optional attachment strap 28. Theattachment strap 28 is a flexible strap that prevents the end caps 2from being accidentally misplaced. In addition, since it secures the endcap 2 to the larger bait station, it prevents ingestion by smallchildren, pets, etc. Of course, the attachment strap 28 can optionallybe used with any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment which uses atubular structure. In this figure, the central chamber 1 is secured tothe end caps 2 via threads 20. This eliminates the need for theextensions 3 used in the previous embodiments. An additional advantageof this embodiment is that the bait station can be fabricated fromoff-the-shelf components such as PVC pipe, metal pipe, etc. Of course,they can also be fabricated by molding, extrusion processes, etc.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that if the extensions 3 areused, then the threading 20 can be eliminated. Also, if the threading 20is eliminated, the extensions can be pressure fit against the outside ofcentral chamber 1 as well as against the inside.

FIG. 8A shows another alternative embodiment in which a ground spike 23is used to secure the bait station to the ground when it is used in anoutdoor environment. For illustrative purposes, the pyramidal baitstation structure of FIGS. 1-5 is used. However, any bait stationstructure can he secured to the ground spike 23 in this manner. Theground spike 23 has a strap 21 that wraps around the cover wall of thebait station and secured by threading the tip 24 of strap 21 through alocking mechanism 22. In the preferred embodiment, the strap isfabricated from flexible material such as nylon. The locking mechanism22 used to secure the strap 21 is well known in the art. By using theground spike 23, the same bait station that is used indoors can be usedin an outdoor environment.

FIG. 8B shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 8A. In this view,the location of the ground spike 23 and the position of the lockingmechanism 22 can be more clearly seen.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that in addition to the strapmechanism used in the embodiment of FIGS. 8A-B, a variety of othermechanical means are available to attach the ground spike 23 to the baitstation. For example, the ground spike 23 could be threaded onto thebottom of the bait station, clamps could be used, adhesive could beused, etc.

FIG. 9A shows another alternative embodiment in which the ground spike23 is an integral and permanent part of the bait station. The groundspike 23 can be molded as part of the bait station or it can bepermanently attached later via adhesives or mechanical means such asclamps. While the ground spike 23 makes the bait station less desirablefor use indoors, it can still be used. For indoor use, bait station needonly be laid on a central chamber 1 wall that does not have the groundspike 23 protruding from it.

FIG. 9B shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 9A. This view alsoshows positioning of the ground spike. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that the ground spike 23 on any of the embodiments does nothave to be located centrally and can in fact be positioned in anyconvenient location. Further, more than one ground spike 23 can be usedwith a bait station.

In FIGS. 10A-B, an alternative preferred embodiment is shown which usesa flexible snap-on clamp 24 to secure the bait station to the ground foroutdoor use. In FIG. 10A, an end view of the bait station is shown whichillustrates a clamp 26 wrapped around a tubular bait station. The clamp24 attaches to the bait station by flexing the clamp 24 to fit over thebait station. The clamp 24 is attached at one end to a ground spike 23which is pushed into the ground to secure the bait station in place.

FIG. 10B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 10A which illustratesthe attachment of the clamp 24 and the ground spike 23 to the baitstation. Also, this figure shows the use of end caps 2 which useextensions 3 that are inserted into the central chamber 1. Thisillustrates an alternative structure to that used in FIG. 7 in whichthreading was used to secure the end caps 2.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that clamp 24 can be shaped tofit a bait station having any shape.

FIG. 11A is an end view of an alternative embodiment in which adetachable strap 25 is wrapped around the bait station and secured tothe ground via a common nail 26. This method reduces manufacturing costssince the strap 25 and the nail 26 are commercially available deviceswhich require no special tooling.

FIG. 11B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 11A which illustratesthe attachment of the detachable strap 25 and nail 26 to the baitstation. This embodiment also illustrates the use of non-threaded endcaps 2 that are secured via extensions 3.

FIG. 11C is a side view of an alternative embodiment which replaces thenail 26 with a screw 27. The screw 27 allows the bait station to bemounted in a variety of indoor locations such as walls or otherstructures.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the baitstation which has a central chamber 1 with removable end caps 2. Insectaccess ports 4 are provided in each of the end caps 2. The centralchamber 1 and end caps 2 have a right angled triangle structure in thisembodiment to allow the bait station to be placed on a floor against awall. This structure is particularly useful in situations where the userwants to place the bait station against a wall. In the case whereinsects crawl around the perimeter of a room at the wall's edge, theplacement of the bait station in this manner will encourage the insectsto crawl through the bait station. Once entering the bait station, theinsects will take some of the bait 8, exit the bait station and returnto the nest.

FIG. 12B is a side cut away view of the bait station of FIG. 12A. Theend caps 2 are shown installed on the central chamber 1. This figurealso illustrates the bait 8 which is shown resting on the bottom of thecentral chamber 1.

As discussed earlier, the bait station taught herein provides anenvironmentally protected chamber for bait in a bait station whichreduces the rate of drying and evaporation. In addition, it alsoprotects the bait 8 from contamination from a variety of causes. Forexample, if left exposed, the bait 8 can be contaminated by dirt, water,liquids, etc. Another benefit of the enclosed structure provided by thebait station is that the bait 8 may be contaminated by odors from avariety of sources, including household cleaners and cigarette smoke. Byenclosing the bait 8 in the bait station, undesirable odors that wouldotherwise contaminate the bait 8 would not be able to easily get to thebait 8 inside the protected environment of the bait station. Further, bypositioning the access ports 4 properly, the embodiments disclosedherein provide sealed chambers capable of holding liquid bait 8 withoutallowing the liquid bait 8 to leak out of the bait station. Further, thebait station disclosed herein provides the user with the ability to usethe bait station either indoors or outdoors. Likewise, there is nolimitation on the shape or size of the bait station.

While the invention has been described with respect to preferredembodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes in detail may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit, scope, and teaching of the invention. For example, thematerial used to construct the station may be anything suitable for thetype of insect and/or the type of bait used, the size and shape of thebait station can vary. The type of ground spike, if any, can vary inorientation, size, or number, etc. Accordingly, the invention hereindisclosed is to be limited only as specified in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A reusable bait station for dispensing solid or liquidbaits, further comprising: a central chamber, at least one access portlimited in size such that it is just sufficient to allow entry and exitof preselected types of insects, the access port located above thebottom of the central chamber; means to access the interior of the baitstation for cleaning and for refilling with the previous or a new typeof bait, means to substantially seal the central chamber such thatliquid bait placed in the chamber will be contained in the bottom of thecentral chamber without leakage, the means to seal the central chamberfurther comprise: at least one removable end cap removably attached tothe central chamber such that, when attached, it forms a leakproof sealon the bottom of the central chamber; and the access port is located inthe end cap above the bottom of the central chamber; whereby the baitstation can be used to dispense multiple types of bait, and the limitedsize of the access port protects the bait from contamination or dilutionby environmental factors.
 2. A bait station, as in claim 1, furthercomprising: an attachment strap attached at a first end to the centralchamber and at a second end to the end cap, the attachment strap havingsufficient length to allow the end cap to be detached from the centralchamber; whereby the attachment strap secures the end cap to the centralchamber.
 3. A bait station, as in claim 1, wherein the central chamberis a pyramidal structure having a floor panel, at least a first angledwall, at least a second angled wall which joins the first angled wall,and at least one end cap.
 4. A bait station, as in claim 1, wherein thecentral chamber is a rectangular structure having a floor panel, atleast a first side wall attached to the floor panel, at least an upperwall attached to the first side wall, at least a second side wallattached to the upper wall and the floor panel, at least one end cap. 5.A bait station, as in claim 1, wherein the central chamber is a tubularstructure having an end cap at each end.
 6. A bait station, as in claim5, wherein the end caps are attached by threading.
 7. A bait station, asin claim 5, wherein the end caps are attached by pressure fitextensions.